An organic currant bun isn’t automatically sugar-free: the Voor Dag & Dauw raisin currant buns sold by Ekoplaza contain 21.1 g of sugars per 100 g, while the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If organic production is your main requirement, check the organic label and assess the sugars, ingredients and allergens separately on the label.
According to the European Union, the ‘sugar-free’ nutrition claim is permitted only when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the nutritional information for the exact currant bun you’re considering; an organic label or the absence of added sugar doesn’t answer that question.
If organic production is your main purchase requirement, look for the product’s organic label. According to Skal Biocontrole, ‘organic’ is a protected term. Then assess the ingredients and nutritional information separately.
If you have a relevant allergy or specific requirements about ingredients, you’ll need information about the exact variant. Check the allergens and, if iodine is relevant to you, whether iodised salt is listed in the ingredients.
First decide whether sugar-free and organic are essential requirements or preferences. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the currant buns that meet your requirements.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The EU ‘sugar-free’ claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ means something different. | If I’m looking for a product that is literally sugar-free, I want to know how much total sugar the currant bun contains, even if no sugar has been added. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Organic production | Check the organic label on the exact variant, then look separately at the ingredients and nutritional information. | When organic production is the deciding factor for me, I want to be able to identify the label without assuming it means the product is low in sugar. Around 33% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Suitability of the label | Compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g and per serving; also check the allergens and, where relevant, whether iodised salt is listed. | If I need to avoid an ingredient or allergen, the information on the exact pack matters more than the product name. For around 25% of consumers, checking the label is the main concern. |
Currants and raisins naturally contain sugars. According to the European Union, the ‘sugar-free’ nutrition claim has a maximum limit of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, regardless of where those sugars come from.
If sugar-free is an essential requirement, start by checking ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g.
Ekoplaza lists 21.1 g of sugars per 100 g for its organic Voor Dag & Dauw raisin currant buns. The organic label alone says nothing about the sugar content or the absence of allergens.
As well as checking the organic label, read the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen information for the exact variant.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through bakers’ salt. That doesn’t mean every currant bun contains iodised salt.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging if they’re relevant to your choice.
These examples show why the organic label and nutritional information need to be checked separately. The details given apply to the variants described.
Ekoplaza sells the brand’s raisin currant buns with the label ‘Certified Organic’.
This retailer sells a product called Organic currant buns and lists organic wheat flour among the ingredients.
The retailer lists both its own-brand raisin currant buns and Schär Bon raisin, a separate gluten-free raisin bun.
No. According to the European Union, the ‘sugar-free’ claim may only be used for products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. Currants and raisins can contribute to the total sugar content even when no sugar has been added.
Check the product’s organic label and, for prepacked products, look for the EU organic logo. According to Skal Biocontrole, ‘organic’ is a protected term; words such as ‘artisan’ or ‘local’ are not a substitute.
You can’t tell from the product category or Dutch origin. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through bakers’ salt. Check the ingredients on the currant bun you’re buying for a mention such as ‘iodised salt’.
It depends on the storage instructions for the variant you choose. Albert Heijn says its own-brand raisin currant buns can be frozen at home on the day of purchase, should be used within one month and need to be defrosted before use. For other variants, follow the instructions on the packaging.
